Exfoliating Hand Scrub Hearts

So many things can cause hands to become dry and rough.

changing seasons

washing dishes

gardening

dry winter air

hand washing

Thankfully, it’s really easy to keep skin smooth, soft and well moisturized.

step 1: exfoliate to slough off dead skin and reveal healthy new skin.

I’m a big believer in the importance of exfoliating skin regularly.

That goes for hands with the exfoliating hand scrub hearts in this blog post,

feetclick here for my lemongrass and chamomile foot scrub recipe,

lipsclick here for my chocolate lip scrub recipe,

all overclick here for my ultimate sugar scrub recipe for the softest, smoothest skin, click here for DIY sugar scrub cubes, click here for coconut slat scrub recipe, and click here for easy exfoliating essential oil soap recipe

step 2: apply a moisturizer like my soft & silky whipped body butter (find the recipe here) or my rich & creamy dry hand lotion (find recipe here).  Exfoliating allows moisturizers to penetrate more deeply into the skin, which makes them more effective.

These hand scrub hearts are easy to make, all natural, and inexpensive.

Actually, they’re downright cheap to make.

They’re made with just a few simple ingredients that you likely already in your kitchen and bath.

What do you need to make these homemade exfoliating hand scrub hearts?

This website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link. 

Epsom salt – sloughs away dead skin cells and then polishes your skin to a soft, smooth, very touchable finish. You can find Epsom salt at Walmart, Target, and drug stores.  click here for where I buy my Epsom salt online.

baking soda – helps to soften skin and its gentle exfoliation leaves skin feeling silky soft.  You can find baking soda in the baking aisle of the grocery store, Walmart, or Target.  I buy my baking soda in large bags at Costco.

filtered or distilled water – You can find distilled water in the bottled water aisle at the grocery store, Walmart, or Target.

lemon essential oil – lightens and brightens skin as it nourishes.  Lemon essential oil can help minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as lighten age spots (aka sun spots).  Plus it helps remove any grease, dirt, and grime from hands, so these hand scrub hearts can do double duty as a gardener’s or mechanic’s hand scrub.

lavender essential oil – soothing and relaxing scent gives me a momentary feel of being at a spa while I use this hand scrub.  Plus lavender essential oil helps boost circulation and regeneration of healthy skin cells.  And lavender oil’s calming properties help soothe dry, reddened hands.

heart-shaped silicone molds – click here for the ones I used  or you can use ice cube or candy-sized silicone molds in pretty much any other shape you want

airtight glass jar – click here for the glass jar I used or you can find similar glass jars at Walmart, Target, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s, etc

label for jar – click here for a free printable of my jar label

spice grinder – click here for the spice grinder I use.  You’ll use the spice grinder to grind the Epsom salt to a fine powder.  I also use this spice grinder to turn regular oatmeal into colloidal oatmeal for my lavender, oatmeal & milk bath soak, and my DIY dry shampoo.  And I also use the grinder to turn almonds and rice into powders for massage bars and gentle exfoliating facial scrubs.

How to make homemade exfoliating hand scrub hearts?

click here to get a free printable of the recipe and jar label

step 1:  Use a spice grinder to grind 1 cup Epsom salt to a fine powder

step 2:  add ground Epsom salt and 1 cup of baking soda to a glass mixing bowl

step 3:  add 24 drops of essential oil and mix well (break up any clumps with the back of a spoon or pinch with your fingers)

I used …

12 drops lemon essential oil

12 drops lavender essential oil

step 4: add 2-3 tablespoons of filtered or distilled water

start with 2 tablespoons of water

then add a little more water if needed

consistency should be the consistency of stiff cookie dough

step 5:  mix well

You want it to be the consistency of stiff cookie dough.

If it’s too crumbly, add a little more water.

If not thick enough, add a little more baking soda.

step 6: divide the dough in half

put half of the dough on top of each heart silicone mold (click here for the silicone molds I used)

then press the dough into each heart cavity

(Alternatively, you can roll into 3/4 inch diameter balls and press into each heart-shape cavity.  I just find it easier and faster to dump half the dough on each mold and press into place.)

step 7: allow the hand scrub hearts to air dry in the molds until completely dry (this usually takes several hours to overnight)

The mixture will likely expand as it dries.  Here are a couple ways to handle this:

1. regularly check on the mixture as it dries and press the dough down as needed.  This might need to be done 3-4 times in the first few hours of drying.
2. cover the silicone molds with something and weigh it down so that the dough won’t have a way to expand.

step 8:  After the hand scrub hearts are completely dry, remove them from the silicone molds and put them in an airtight glass jar (this is the jar I used).

Add a label to the jar (click here for a free printable of my jar label)

Here’s the homemade hand scrub recipe one more time

click here to get a free printable of recipe and jar label

1. Use a spice grinder to grind 1 cup Epsom salt to a fine powder
2. add ground Epsom salt and 1 cup of baking soda to a glass mixing bowl
3. add 12 drops of lemon essential oil and 12 drops lavender essential oil
4. mix well and break up any clumps with the back of a spoon or pinch with your fingers
5. add 2-3 tablespoons of filtered or distilled water.  Start with 2 tablespoons of water.  Then add a little more water if needed.  Consistency should be the consistency of stiff cookie dough.
6. mix well — You want it to be the consistency of stiff cookie dough.  If it’s too crumbly, add a little more water.  If not thick enough, add a little more baking soda.
7. divide the dough in half.  put half of the dough on top of each heart silicone mold (click here for the silicone molds I used).  Then press the dough into each heart cavity.
8. allow the hand scrub hearts to air dry in the molds until completely dry (this usually takes several hours to overnight).  The mixture will likely expand as it dries.  Here are a couple ways to handle this –> option #1: regularly check on the mixture as it dries and press the dough down as needed.  This might need to be done 3-4 times in the first few hours of drying.  option #2: cover the silicone molds with something and weigh it down so that the dough won’t have a way to expand.
9. After the hand scrub hearts are completely dry, remove them from the silicone molds and put them in an airtight glass jar (this is the jar I used).
10. Add a label to the jar (click here for a free printable of my jar label)

How to use exfoliating hand scrub hearts

1. take one heart and put it in the palm of your hand
2. run water over it
3. gently rub the heart into your hands, breaking it up as you scrub
4. rinse well
5. pat dry
6. apply a moisturizer like my soft & silky whipped body butter (find the recipe here) or my rich & creamy dry hand lotion (find recipe here)

Where to get supplies

This website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link. 

Epsom salt – You can find Epsom salt at Walmart, Target, and drug stores.  click here for where I buy my Epsom salt online.

baking soda – You can find baking soda in the baking aisle of the grocery store, Walmart, or Target.  I buy my baking soda in large bags at Costco.

filtered or distilled water – You can find distilled water in the bottled water aisle at the grocery store, Walmart, or Target.

heart-shaped silicone molds – click here for the ones I used  or you can use ice cube or candy-sized silicone molds in pretty much any other shape you want

airtight glass jar – click here for the glass jar I used or you can find similar glass jars at Walmart, Target, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn’s, etc

label for jar – click here for a free printable of my jar label

spice grinder – click here for the spice grinder I use.  You’ll use the spice grinder to grind the Epsom salt to a fine powder.  I also use this spice grinder to turn regular oatmeal into colloidal oatmeal for my lavender, oatmeal & milk bath soak, and my DIY dry shampoo.  And I also use the grinder to turn almonds and rice into powders for massage bars and gentle exfoliating facial scrubs.

click here to get a free printable of the recipe and jar label

here are a few other essential oil posts that I think you’ll like:

Soft & Silky Whipped Body Butter

Ultimate Sugar Scrub for your softest smoothest skin ever

Lemongrass and Chamomile Foot Scrub

Soft & Silky Whipped Body Butter

Super Rich & Creamy Dry Hand Lotion

DIY face serum with essential oils – customized versions for every skin type (dry, oily, acne-prone, mature, sensitive, normal)

20 Favorite Roller Bottle Blend Recipes and Free Printable Labels

Exfoliating Sugar Scrub Cubes

Best deals for essential oil supplies– diffusers cases, spray bottles, carrier oils, essential oil tools

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Please note: Products mentioned in this article have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products and information on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This website is not a substitute for professional care.  Always consult your medical doctor regarding your medical care. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

Disclaimer: Please know that this website contains affiliate links. This means that should you click on certain links, and then subsequently purchase a product, I will receive a small commission. The price is exactly the same for you as it would be without the affiliate link.